Andrew Roth
@roththereporter
Covering Michigan politics and policy at Michigan Advance and WKAR. Reporting and photos also seen in The Detroit News, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, POLITICO, The Atlantic and more. Available for assignment. Also at @rothsreviews.bsky.social.
U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed looks into the TV cameras and addresses AIPAC: "I know you're watching. You ought to burn your damn money." He says tax dollars should be spent in the U.S.: "We've got potholes that need to be filled here in Michigan. Eight years later, still need to be filled."
U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says he was outspent by Gretchen Whitmer and Shri Thanedar in 2018, like he's being outspent now by Haley Stevens, but was "two-to-one more efficient than the governor, three-to-one more efficient than a guy who's currently in Congress."
Haley Stevens’ campaign sends out a press release using Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign logo and graphics to tout the “endorsement” of Mike Rogers after CNN reporting on Rogers’ private assessment of the field. Rogers says it “doesn’t matter which socialist survives the Democrats’ brutal primary.”
Once U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed finished speaking in Lansing, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders returned to the stage for a photo. AOC then left the stage before U.S. House candidate William Lawrence, who she has not endorsed, joined the others.
"You know how many millionaires you can make for one billionaire? A thousand," Abdul El-Sayed says. "I don't know. I'd rather live in an economy that has 1,000 millionaires than one billionaire." He adds that billionaires make money "doing absolute jack shit."
"We could use a little more public health. I don't know if I've heard the words 'explosive diarrhea' said more times," Abdul El-Sayed says. "You can barely breathe the air. The toilets are having a rough time. And I don't think it's a coincidence that RFK Jr. is health secretary."
"I don't want you to fall off of your chairs, because what I'm going to tell you has been described by some of our Republican colleagues as communistic, as far far left, as extremist," Bernie Sanders says before telling the crowd in Lansing that Abdul El-Sayed supports Medicare for All.
"You can't breathe the air, you can't eat a salad, you can't pay the rent," U.S. House candidate Will Larence says before Bernie Sanders and AOC take the stage at a rally with Abdul El-Sayed in Lansing.
Saw cars from Maryland, Virginia, Indiana and Wisconsin in event parking near the Lansing Center today ahead of Bernie Sanders and AOC's rally with Abdul El-Sayed and William Lawrence. Can't say for sure where the drivers went, but seems the rally may be a regional draw.
No Data Centers in Mason's website says it is paid for by No Data Centers in Michigan. Campaign finance records show No Data Centers in Michigan has just one backer: No Data Centers in Mason. Records also show it is run by two former leaders of the 7th Congressional District Republican Committee.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer clarifies reports that she won't run for president in 2028. "I never thought I'd run for governor, so I should know better," Whitmer says. "Never say never." Whitmer says she doesn't want any distractions during her final year as governor.
Former Transportation Secretary @petebuttigieg.bsky.social says the Gordie Howe International Bridge is being blocked from opening due to "corruption." "The craziest thing about this is Mexico was never going to pay for the wall, but Canada actually did pay for the bridge," Buttigieg adds. #MPC26
Former VP Mike Pence is asked how often he talks to his former running mate, President Donald Trump. "It's been a while," Pence says. #MPC26
Former VP Mike Pence says he first visited Mackinac Island as a kid — usually without issue. But he jokes that the last time he was here, the Secret Service missed the memo to leave the motorcade behind. He says this time he's traveling by horse-drawn carriage. #MPC26
In the past couple days, I've traveled on a plane, train, bus, car, boat and horse-drawn carriage. Going straight from the traffic of Times Square to the traffic of Mackinac Island is quite an adjustment. #MPC26
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shouted out Michigan State University's "handsome, buff mascot, Sparty" during her commencement address at her alma mater today. "Think about those poor students in Ann Arbor," Whitmer said. "They have a weasel for a mascot." Photos for @michiganadvance.com:
"Congratulations, I love you, Big Gretch out, go green," Whitmer finishes her speech at MSU, her final commencement address as governor.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer tells graduating MSU students two major events happened during her freshman year here: the Berlin Wall fell, and the first couches burned at Cedar Village. "I may or may not have been at one of those events," Whitmer says. "Let's just say I didn't have a passport."
Rather than having floor access, like at previous commencement addresses, press photographers will instead be restricted to the media platforms behind the top of the lower bowl as Whitmer speaks tomorrow, per MSU.
Haley Stevens capitalizes on CNN reporting about old tweets deleted by Mallory McMorrow. Stevens is the only candidate in the U.S. Senate primary who hasn’t been the focus of a KFILE story on deleted tweets (yet). He reported on Abdul El-Sayed’s deleted tweets last year.
Michigan Attorney General @dananessel.bsky.social is front and center cheering on New York Attorney General Letitia James at the Detroit NAACP Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner.
More photos from last night’s MDP Convention in Detroit, featuring U.S. Senate candidates Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens, Secretary of State endorsee Garlin Gilchrist and many campaign signs. 📸 for @michiganadvance.com
Scenes from the MDP’s spring convention last night, where progressives like Garlin Gilchrist and Eli Savit had a nearly clean sweep and candidates like Mallory McMorrow and Suzanna Shkreli were followed by marching bands and anonymous digital billboard carriers. 📸 for @michiganadvance.com
Amir Makled defeats UM Regent Jordan Acker to win the Michigan Democratic Party's endorsement for the University of Michigan's governing board in another win for the party's progressive wing. Incumbent Paul Brown won the party's other endorsement.
Michigan State University Trustees Brianna Scott and Kelly Tebay have won the Michigan Democratic Party's endorsement for another term, fending off a challenge from state Sen. Sylvia Santana.
Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit wins the Michigan Democratic Party endorsement for attorney general in a win for the party's progressive wing.
Lt. Gov. @garlingilchrist.bsky.social has won the Michigan Democratic Party's endorsement for secretary of state on the first ballot.
Haley Stevens is booed as she takes the stage at the Michigan Democratic Party Convention in Detroit. She spoke over people screaming "shame" and other comments, many about Palestine, through most of her remarks. "Democrats, I love you, even when we disagree," Stevens said.
MDP Chair Curtis Hertel says this is the party's largest convention to date. They've filled the Huntington Place ballroom and have several overflow rooms set up.